Former Jacksonville City Council presidents Bill Bishop and Stephen Joost joined host Melissa Ross to discuss why they oppose Mayor Lenny Curry’s pension proposal. We also heard from tutor Michelle Kaiser about the importance of communication between a student’s parents and their teachers, and local charity Dignity U Wear has launched a new challenge to help clothe school children living in poverty.
Sales tax opposition
Bishop and Joost told Ross the pension proposal Curry is asking voters to approve “just kicks the can down the road” instead of dealing with the problem now. They said extending the ½ cent sales tax amounts to “taxation without representation” for future generations. The current ½ cent sales tax from the Better Jacksonville Plan expires in 2030. Curry’s proposal would extend the tax to pay off the pension debt.
Tutoring parents
Communication between parents and teachers can always be a problem. Michelle Kaiser of m.power tutoring spoke with Ross about what teachers wish parents knew about their children’s education.
Dignity U Wear
Local nonprofit Dignity U Wear has been issued a $22,500 challenge grant. Information technology company Nagarro and an anonymous donor have pledged to match donations to the organization’s Learning with “Dignity — Clothing Children for Success” campaign. Dignity U Wear supplies new school appropriate attire and after school programs for children living in poverty.
0000017b-82fc-dd8b-a7fb-82ff31020000Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax
